Two die in N1 crash

Johannesburg - Two people were killed and 11 others injured in a crash on the N1 north before the Samrand Road offramp in Johannesburg on Monday, paramedics said.

A minibus taxi collided with the back of a truck, flinging passengers out, ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said.

The truck apparently broke down and was stationary on the side of the road.

"The taxi was found at the side of the road with one of its sides almost completely ripped from the body. Only a small section at the back was still attached, and the metal was twisted and bent."

The taxi driver and a man believed to have been seated behind him, died on the scene.

Two emergency helicopters were called in to transport two badly injured men to Pretoria's Steve Biko Academic Hospital.

"A young woman who sustained broken bones in her face was rushed to the Tembisa Hospital for urgent medical care."

A further seven people sustained moderate injuries. Police were investigating the cause of the crash.

Comments

sedeshan - 2012-09-03 20:05

"Police were investigating the cause of the crash" - That would be the damn taxi driver that died on the scene. These guys contribute to 80% of the death toll on our roads.

ish.mkhonto.7 - 2012-09-03 20:15

they drive like they have been promised a gold medal; unfortunately our road are not Paralympic Games.

shudusO - 2012-09-04 08:26

They are paralympics with no Gold medal...if you are lucky u won't get a Death Medal... :-(

taetjo.mathabatha - 2012-09-03 21:07

Have a bit of sympathy guys. People die, it was not like they were attacking the police like those guys in Marikana.

anton.debeer.3701 - 2012-09-04 00:56

That, mr. Mathabatha is the problem. Before the accident, like the Marikana strikers, the Taxi drivers and their passengers are arrogant, disrespectful to other road users and the law. They do not take one second to consider how they are endangering the lives of others.
When their actions result in harm to others, such as the policemen that were killed, they just shrug it off and say "They got what they deserve". When their actions result in harm to themselves, then they want sympathy and blame everyone else for the consequences.
The time has come to put a stop to this and by being lenient to these transgressors is not solving the problem, but rather escalating it.

brionyl.french - 2012-09-04 05:39

Taxis should be abolished! Or run better, making sure all taxis are serviced and not on the roads if not 100 and taxi drivers need to have gone on advanced driving courses and have PDP...but alas this is africa and the more they kill the less support the ANc has so i say just stay clear of them and let the Taxi industry kill the ANC..WOOO HOOO pity innocent lives always get lost by these gansters

carol.harvey.9406 - 2012-09-04 08:44

Do the taxi drivers also take Muti before driving off with their passengers, believing they will be safe from all harm ..... idiots!!!!No sympathy for the driver here ... RIP the passengers.

sisie.indola - 2012-09-04 10:58

Investigating the cause of the accident - that would be the taxi - zooming up the yellow lane as though there is no tomorrow - well there isn't now. It sounds harsh, but the drivers are to blame and so are the passengers who egg on the drivers. It certainly wasn't the trucks fault that it broke down....or is it?

rohin.jadin - 2012-09-04 13:13

I really feel sorry for the people that have no alternative to taking taxis. Now seven people will be away from work, and suffer the consequences of this accident through no fault of their own.
I wish I could say it's only taxis that drive like maniacs. Driving through Midrand each day, I have to play chicken with taxis and private cars that drive towards oncoming traffic to avoid queues, drive right through stop streets and go straight in turn only lanes.
Assuming this taxi hit the truck that was stationary - one has to wonder how could they not see the truck.

mauritz.kloppers.7 - 2012-09-04 14:57

It is the truck's fault - how did he dare to park in the dedicated, high-speed taxi lane!